Bill Summary for Bill Number SB13-151

Date: 03/21/2013

Final
BILL SUMMARY for SB13-151

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, INSURANCE & ENVIRONMENT

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment A). The motion p Refer Senate Bill 13-151, as amended, to the Commi	Pass Without Objection PASS

01:33 PM -- Senate Bill 13-151

Representative Primavera presented Senate Bill 13-151 concerning the continuation of the regulation of massage therapists. The bill continues the regulation of massage therapists until September 1, 2022, and implements the recommendations of the sunset review on the Massage Therapy Practice Act. A key recommendation of the sunset review is to repeal registration requirements and implement licensing requirements for massage therapists. Licensing allows for increased grounds for disciplinary action by the Director of the Division of Professions and Occupations in the Department of Regulatory Agencies such as failure to report an adverse action taken by another jurisdiction, failure to meet standards of care, and commission of a crime related to the practice of massage therapy. All active massage therapy registrations become active massage therapy licenses on July 1, 2014, and all pending applications for registrations are considered applications for licensure. The bill also:

authorizes the director to issue letters of admonition and confidential letters of concern when a disciplinary action is not warranted;
allows licensure for an applicant who has obtained a degree or diploma from an out-of-state school approved by the director;
prohibits a massage therapist whose license has been revoked or surrendered from reapplying for at least two years;
authorizes the director to enter into a confidential agreement with a massage therapist who has mental or physical condition or illness;
allows for disciplining a massage therapist who has a mental or physical condition or disability that may endanger the health and safety of clients who fails to notify the director or fails to act within agreed upon limitations; and
requires the director to adopt rules regarding generally accepted standards of massage therapy care.

01:37 PM -- Jean Robinson, Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, testified in support of the bill. She discussed the history of the Massage Therapy Practice Act, the change from registration to licensure outlined in the bill, and the Department of Regulatory Agencies' director model. She discussed the licensing fees for massage therapists and how massage therapists were regulated prior to the adoption of the Massage Therapy Practice Act.

01:42 PM

The committee took a brief recess.

01:45 PM

Representative McCann called the committee back to order. Representative Primavera presented amendment L.003 (Attachment A) and responded to a question about the amendment.

130321 AttachA.pdf


BILL:	SB13-151
TIME:	01:45:37 PM
MOVED:	Primavera
MOTION:	Adopt amendment L.003 (Attachment A). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:	Young
		VOTE
	Conti
	Fields	Excused
	Ginal
	Humphrey
	Joshi
	Primavera
	Stephens
	Swalm
	Young
	Schafer
	McCann

YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 1 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

01:49 PM

Representative Stephens presented amendment L.004 (Attachment B). Representative McCann ruled the amendment did not fit under the title and that it was a settled question. Representative Primavera commented on amendment L.004.

130321 AttachB.pdf

01:52 PM

Representative Primavera provided concluding remarks.


BILL:	SB13-151
TIME:	01:52:37 PM
MOVED:	Primavera
MOTION:	Refer Senate Bill 13-151, as amended, to the Committee on Finance. The motion passed on a vote of 7-4.
SECONDED:	Schafer
		VOTE
	Conti	Yes
	Fields	Yes
	Ginal	Yes
	Humphrey	No
	Joshi	No
	Primavera	Yes
	Stephens	No
	Swalm	No
	Young	Yes
	Schafer	Yes
	McCann	Yes

Final YES: 7 NO: 4 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS